SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to make additional payments to help Scotland’s poorest families “weather the storm” of the Covid-19 crisis.

New analysis of official figures shows that 22.7 per cent of virus cases in Scotland have been in the most deprived areas while 18.8 per cent have been in the least deprived.

And figures from NHS Lothian show that twice as many calls to the NHS 24 telehealth service come from the poorest areas as compared to the wealthiest.

The findings were published in a paper by Professor Alison McCallum, director of public health and health policy at NHS Lothian, for a health board meeting today.

Jim McCormick, Scotland associate director for anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “It can never be right that someone’s life chances are so profoundly affected by where they live or how much money their family has.”

Today more than 100 organisations including poverty campaigners and trade unions, published an open letter urging the First Minister to act on the trend.

They say that extra payments would be a lifeline for low-income families amid fears that the Covid-19 crisis would lead to an increase in child poverty.

The groups argue that the government should consider topping up existing payments, making crisis payments for families waiting for universal credit, or paying extra cash to those who have had their benefit payment reduced as a result of the two-child limit.

John Dickie, director of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said: “It’s right that government at every level should use every power at its disposal to provide an anchor of financial security through these extraordinary times.

“Boosting family incomes now is vital to shore up the foundations on which the recovery from coronavirus can be built and future progress on child poverty made.”

The government said that it had committed a total of £475 million to support those most at risk as a result of coronavirus.

“We understand that this is a difficult time for many families. That is why we are working on introducing the new Scottish Child Payment and will be paying carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance an additional supplement this year,” its statement said.